Pacific International Bucks Executive Search Trends and Paves the Way for Continued Growth

Pacific International Executive Search has shown remarkable resilience in a year marked by economic volatility and shifting market dynamics. Throughout 2024, while leadership hiring fluctuated across key industries, our client-centric approach and unwavering commitment to building trusted partnerships have enabled us to defy unfavourable executive search trends. As the year draws to a close, we reflect on a journey defined by adaptability, strategic focus, and a dedication to delivering value to our clients.

Staying True to Our Core Mission and Values

Pacific sustained all key 2023 client partnerships and deepened these relationships, becoming a trusted partner to many through regional or global Master Service Agreements. Building on this solid foundation, 2024 saw us establish a record number of new partnerships across diverse industries, including Industrial Goods Manufacturing, Chemical and Process Industries, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Life Sciences, and Consumer Goods.

Over 170 candidates accepted new leadership opportunities across 17 countries and 5 continents, underscoring our commitment to helping clients build high-impact senior leadership teams worldwide.

We are particularly proud that 40% of our placed candidates represent diverse hires, reflecting our ongoing commitment to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Investing in Continuous Improvement to Deliver Exceptional Value

In 2024, Pacific became a Hogan Assessments Certified Company—an important milestone that empowers us to deliver data-driven hiring solutions, mitigate bias, and reduce the risk of poor hiring decisions for our clients.
Our investment in team training and technology enhancements has further sharpened our ability to source and place high-impact talent while also fostering growth within our organization.

Our digital reach also expanded significantly. With over 100,000 LinkedIn followers—doubling over the past two years—and the introduction of The Leadership Insider, our monthly newsletter with 20,000 subscribers, we’ve amplified our ability to engage with global talent, share insights on critical C-suite topics, and act as brand champions for our clients.

Fostering a Collaborative Culture and Team Spirit

Recognizing the achievements of our high-performing team members, we celebrated with an annual sales conference in Lisbon, Portugal. These few days allowed us to deepen team connections, share best practices, and enjoy the vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and sunshine Lisbon offers. We returned refreshed, energized, and already looking forward to the 2025 trip!

Pacific Teams may be scattered around the world but we are committed to supporting each other during important events in our lives. This year brought not one, not two, not three but four weddings and the arrival of baby Maria! Many of us traveled to celebrate these special moments, demonstrating our commitment to supporting one another beyond the workplace. Congratulations yet again to them all!

Team bonding extended to everyday activities as well, with events such as cupcake decorating, nature walks, potluck lunches, escape room challenges, and festive meals bringing joy and camaraderie to our offices.

Giving Back to Our Communities

Pacific has remained committed to supporting charitable causes in 2024. Our initiatives included raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Research, MANNA, and Mind. As part of our annual tradition, we replaced holiday cards with a generous donation to The William Templeton Foundation for Young People’s Mental Health (YPMH), a charity dedicated to improving youth mental health through innovative approaches.

If you’d like to join us in supporting their important work, you can do so here.

David Howells, Group CEO of Pacific International, shared:

“As we close out another remarkable year, I want to extend my sincere thanks to our clients worldwide. Your trust and partnership motivate us to consistently raise the bar and deliver excellence. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue building stronger connections with you, applying our expertise to provide exceptional and diverse talent solutions that not only fuel your business growth but also align with your ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and business goals. Together, we can reach even greater heights!

“Our accomplishments this year would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of our global team. Their dedication to providing exceptional service, their passion for innovation, and their collaboration in sharing knowledge and best practices have been at the core of our success. We are proud of each and every one of them and remain deeply committed to supporting their growth through training, resources, and development opportunities. To our team members—you are the driving force behind Pacific International, and we thank you for everything you do.”

Happy Holidays everyone and a peaceful and prosperous New Year!